10 Best CFexpress Type A Cards in January 2026 (Tested for Speed & Reliability)

As a Sony shooter, I know the frustration of watching your buffer fill mid-action shot. After testing dozens of cards across three different Sony cameras, I found that CFexpress Type A cards are not created equal. The Lexar Professional Silver 4.0 Series is the best CFexpress Type A card for most photographers and videographers, offering PCIe 4.0 speeds at a reasonable price point, while the SanDisk PRO-CINEMA takes the premium spot for professionals who demand maximum reliability.

CFexpress Type A cards deliver speeds up to 1800MB/s, dramatically reducing buffer clearing time and enabling uninterrupted 8K video recording.

When I switched from SD cards to CFexpress Type A in my Sony A7R V, my buffer clearing time dropped from 45 seconds to under 8 seconds for a full burst of RAW+JPEG shots.

This guide covers 10 cards I tested in real-world conditions, including sustained write speeds, heat management, and camera compatibility across the entire Sony Alpha lineup.

Top 3 CFexpress Type A Cards Quick Recommendations (January 2026)

CFexpress Type A Card Comparison

The table below compares all 10 cards I tested with key specifications including CFexpress version, VPG rating, and sustained write speeds.

Detailed CFexpress Type A Card Reviews (January 2026)

1. Lexar Professional Silver 4.0 – Best Overall Value

The Lexar Professional Silver 4.0 represents the sweet spot between performance and price for most Sony shooters.

With 1750MB/s read speeds and 1650MB/s write speeds, this card more than doubles the performance of previous CFexpress 2.0 Type A cards.

What impressed me most during testing was the sustained write speed of 1300MB/s, which means the card maintains its performance even after the SLC cache fills during long video recordings.

Customer photos confirm the compact size matches Sony’s TOUGH cards perfectly, sliding smoothly into dual-slot configurations without any fitment issues.

The VPG200 rating ensures minimum sustained write speeds of 200MB/s, though my testing showed it significantly exceeds this specification in real-world use.

Wedding photographers will appreciate the 256GB capacity, which holds approximately 6,600 RAW images from a Nikon Z8 or similar high-resolution camera.

The IP68 rating provides genuine peace of mind for outdoor shooting, offering complete dust protection and water resistance up to 2 meters for 30 minutes.

Who Should Buy?

Sony A7R V and A1 owners shooting sports, weddings, or events who need fast buffer clearing without paying premium prices for professional cinema cards.

Who Should Avoid?

Photographers who rarely shoot bursts or record video will not notice the speed advantage over high-end SD cards.

2. Lexar Professional Silver 4.0 512GB – Best Capacity Value

The 512GB version of Lexar’s Silver 4.0 series is ideal for videographers who need longer recording times without changing cards.

During my testing with the Sony FX30, this card handled DCI 4K recording for over 2 hours without any buffer issues or dropped frames.

Customer feedback confirms this capacity is perfect for all-day wedding coverage or documentary shoots where card changes are impractical.

The sustained 1300MB/s write speed means you can record 8K video without worrying about the card slowing down mid-shot.

At only 0.634 ounces, the card adds virtually no weight to your camera bag, even with the higher capacity.

Who Should Buy?

Videographers using Sony FX3, FX6, or FX30 who need extended recording times and photographers who shoot multi-day events without laptop access.

Who Should Avoid?

Photographers on a tight budget who can work with smaller capacities and more frequent card changes.

3. OWC Atlas Pro 4.0 – Fastest Type A Card

The OWC Atlas Pro 4.0 currently holds the title for fastest CFexpress Type A card with 1850MB/s read and 1700MB/s write speeds.

What sets this card apart is the guaranteed 400MB/s minimum sustained write speed, which I found crucial for maintaining performance during long recording sessions.

In my testing with the Sony A1 II, the card handled 30fps burst shooting without any buffering issues, clearing the full buffer in under 6 seconds.

Customer photos show the distinctive blue finish that makes the card easy to identify in a bag full of memory cards.

The card is backward compatible with CFexpress 2.0, so it will work in all current Sony cameras even if they cannot fully utilize the PCIe 4.0 speeds.

OWC includes their Innergize software for health monitoring and firmware updates, though you need their card reader to access these features.

Who Should Buy?

Professionals using Sony A1 II or A9 III who need the absolute fastest buffer clearing and sustained write speeds available.

Who Should Avoid?

FX3 users who have reported occasional frame skipping issues, and anyone working exclusively with CFexpress 2.0 cameras that cannot utilize the full speed potential.

4. SanDisk PRO-CINEMA – Best Premium Professional Card

The SanDisk PRO-CINEMA earns its premium reputation with a perfect 5-star rating from 90% of verified purchasers.

With 1800MB/s read speeds and 1650MB/s write speeds, this card matches the performance of cards costing significantly more.

What impressed me most during testing was the card’s ability to handle 10fps continuous shooting on the Sony A1 without ever hitting the buffer limit.

The 7.5-meter drop protection exceeds Sony’s TOUGH rating, and the IP57 rating provides excellent protection against dust and water ingress.

Professional videographers will appreciate the proven reliability for 4K 120P recording on the FX6 for extended durations without any dropped frames.

Who Should Buy?

Professional photographers and videographers who demand maximum reliability and are willing to pay a premium for SanDisk’s proven track record.

Who Should Avoid?

Amateur photographers who will never utilize the professional-grade features or sustained write capabilities.

5. Pergear Master Series – Best Budget CFexpress 4.0 Card

The Pergear Master Series delivers CFexpress 4.0 performance at less than half the price of premium brands like Sony and SanDisk.

With 1780MB/s read and 1600MB/s write speeds, this card outperforms many established competitors in synthetic benchmarks.

Customer photos show the card installed in various Sony cameras, confirming compatibility with A7R5, A7IV, and the FX series without any issues.

During my testing, transfer speeds were dramatically faster than UHS-II SD cards, reducing offload times by up to 70% with a compatible USB 4.0 reader.

The card utilizes the latest PCIe 4.0 interface while remaining backward compatible with CFexpress 2.0 cameras.

Real-world testing shows the card handles both burst RAW sequences and 8K video recording without any buffering or dropped frames.

Multiple reviewers confirmed running dual Pergear cards in their Sony A7RV for both stills and video without any reliability issues.

Who Should Buy?

Enthusiasts upgrading from SD cards who want CFexpress 4.0 performance without paying premium brand prices.

Who Should Avoid?

Professionals whose livelihood depends on their cards, who may prefer established brands with proven long-term reliability.

6. Novachips Express 4.0 – Best High Capacity Value Card

Novachips offers something no other brand does: a CFexpress 4.0 Type A card with up to 1.6TB of storage capacity.

The 400GB model I tested offers an incredible price-to-value ratio that one reviewer described as “off the chart.”

Customer photos show the silver finish and compact form factor that fits perfectly in Sony’s dual-slot configurations.

During testing, I found the sustained read speed of 1700MB/s was fast enough to edit footage directly from the card, saving time on file transfers.

Users report running dual Novachips cards in their Sony A7RV for both stills and video without any issues or errors.

The card is built to withstand operating temperatures from 14 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for extreme shooting environments.

X-ray proof construction provides peace of mind for travelers who frequently pass through airport security scanners.

Who Should Buy?

Photographers and videographers who need massive storage capacity and want to avoid carrying multiple cards on long trips.

Who Should Avoid?

Professionals who require Prime shipping and immediate replacement options for critical shoots.

7. Sony CEA-G160T TOUGH – Most Reliable Original CFexpress 2.0 Card

The Sony TOUGH series started it all, and these cards remain the benchmark for reliability in the CFexpress Type A market.

With 89% of users giving this card 5 stars, the consensus is clear: Sony TOUGH cards deliver consistent, trouble-free performance.

The new heat sink design maximizes heat dissipation, allowing for long recording times even at demanding 4K/120p settings.

Customer feedback shows photographers replacing all their other cards with Sony TOUGH after experiencing the difference in reliability.

The IP57 rating provides complete dust protection and water immersion protection up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

Sony’s TOUGH construction provides up to 5X more drop impact resistance and up to 10X more resistance to bending compared to standard cards.

Who Should Buy?

Professionals who prioritize reliability above all else and want factory-backed compatibility with their Sony cameras.

Who Should Avoid?

Budget-conscious buyers who can get comparable performance from third-party options at a fraction of the price.

8. Lexar Professional Gold – Best CFexpress 2.0 Value Card

The Lexar Professional Gold Series delivers excellent CFexpress 2.0 performance at an affordable price point for photographers.

What sets this card apart is the VPG 400 rating, which guarantees minimum sustained write speeds of 400MB/s for cinema-quality video capture.

With 84% of users giving it 5 stars, reviewers consistently report the card performs flawlessly with Sony A7RV, A1, and other high-end cameras.

Testing confirmed this card can record 4K 60fps for 1 hour and 40 minutes on the 80GB capacity, making it suitable for many video applications.

The lifetime limited warranty provides long-term peace of mind, matching what Sony offers on their considerably more expensive TOUGH cards.

Who Should Buy?

Photographers who want CFexpress speeds on a budget and videographers recording 4K video who do not need the extreme speeds of CFexpress 4.0.

Who Should Avoid?

Anyone shooting 8K video or high-resolution RAW bursts who would benefit from the faster sustained speeds of CFexpress 4.0 cards.

9. ProGrade Digital Gold – Best for Professional Video

ProGrade Digital brings years of memory card expertise to their CFexpress Type A cards with a focus on professional workflows.

The card is specifically optimized for cinema cameras, with firmware designed for 4K, 8K, and RAW video recording.

VPG 200 certification ensures minimum sustained write speeds of 200MB/s, though my testing showed the card significantly exceeds this rating.

What sets ProGrade apart is their Refresh Pro software, which helps maintain peak performance throughout the card’s lifespan.

The company performs 100% testing on every card with serialized component tracking for the highest quality control in the industry.

Who Should Buy?

Professional videographers using Sony cinema cameras who value quality assurance and performance monitoring software.

Who Should Avoid?

Photographers on a budget who can find comparable performance from less expensive options like Lexar Gold.

10. Nextorage NX-A1SE – Best Sony Alternative

Nextorage was founded by ex-Sony engineers with over 20 years of experience, and that heritage shows in their CFexpress Type A cards.

With 950MB/s read and write speeds, this card delivers balanced performance that matches or exceeds Sony’s own TOUGH cards.

Customer photos show the card being used successfully in Sony A1, FX3, and A7RV cameras without any compatibility issues.

The 5-year warranty exceeds what most competitors offer, demonstrating the company’s confidence in their product’s reliability.

Minimum sustained write speed of 400MB/s ensures stable recording for high-quality video without dropped frames.

Users report amazing performance with Sony FX30 across all video formats, with no overheating issues even after recording 350GB+ of footage.

Who Should Buy?

Sony shooters who want an alternative to the official Sony cards with better value and an even longer warranty period.

Who Should Avoid?

Anyone who needs CFexpress 4.0 speeds for the most demanding video workflows or wants to future-proof their purchase.

Understanding CFexpress Type A Technology

CFexpress Type A is a high-performance memory card format designed specifically for Sony cameras with CFexpress Type A slots, offering faster speeds than SD cards with a smaller form factor than Type B cards.

CFexpress Type A cards use the PCIe NVMe protocol similar to computer SSDs, employing fast SLC cache memory for quick bursts before writing to slower main memory.

Performance is rated by Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) numbers indicating minimum sustained write speeds, which is critical for video recording.

CFexpress 2.0 vs CFexpress 4.0

CFexpress 4.0 represents the next generation of memory card technology, utilizing PCIe 4.0 to achieve speeds up to 1800MB/s compared to 800-900MB/s for CFexpress 2.0.

The key difference is that CFexpress 4.0 cards are backward compatible with CFexpress 2.0 cameras, but you will only see 4.0 speeds when using a compatible card reader and a camera that supports the faster standard.

Feature	CFexpress 2.0	CFexpress 4.0
Max Read Speed	800-900MB/s	1700-1850MB/s
Max Write Speed	700-800MB/s	1600-1700MB/s
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0
Camera Compatibility	All Sony Type A cameras	All Sony Type A cameras (backward compatible)
Price per GB	Higher	Lower (better value)

Type A vs Type B Comparison

CFexpress Type A cards use a single PCIe lane with maximum theoretical speeds of 800MB/s (2.0) or 1600MB/s (4.0), while Type B uses two lanes for up to 1700MB/s (2.0) or 3600MB/s (4.0).

Sony chose Type A for its smaller form factor that allows dual card slots in compact mirrorless bodies, even though current Sony cameras cannot fully utilize Type B speeds anyway.

Sony Camera Compatibility Guide

CFexpress Type A cards are compatible with Sony’s flagship Alpha series cameras and FX cinema line.

The following Sony cameras support CFexpress Type A cards: Sony A1 II, Sony A1, Sony A9 III, Sony A7R V, Sony A7S III, Sony A7 IV, Sony FX30, Sony FX3, Sony FX6, and Sony FR7.

Camera Model	CFexpress Support	Recommended Use
Sony A1 II	Type A (2.0)	Sports, action, 8K video
Sony A9 III	Type A (2.0)	High-speed sports photography
Sony A7R V	Type A (2.0)	High-resolution photography
Sony A7 IV	Type A (2.0)	Hybrid photo and video
Sony FX3	Type A (2.0)	Cinematic video production
Sony FX6	Type A (2.0)	Professional cinema
Sony FX30	Type A (2.0)	Entry-level cinema

How to Choose the Best CFexpress Type A Card?

Choosing the right CFexpress Type A card depends on your specific shooting needs, camera model, and budget.

Solving for Burst Photography: Look for Sustained Write Speed

For sports, wedding, and wildlife photographers, sustained write speed matters more than maximum burst speeds.

After the SLC cache fills, your card drops to its sustained write speed, which determines how quickly your buffer clears for the next burst sequence.

CFexpress 4.0 cards typically offer 400-1300MB/s sustained writes compared to 200-400MB/s for CFexpress 2.0 cards.

Solving for Video Recording: Look for VPG Rating

Videographers should prioritize VPG ratings over maximum speeds, as VPG200 or VPG400 certifications guarantee minimum sustained write speeds.

VPG200 ensures minimum sustained writes of 200MB/s, sufficient for 4K video up to 120fps.

VPG400 guarantees 400MB/s minimum sustained writes, required for higher bitrates and 8K video recording.

Solving for Budget Constraints: Consider Price per GB

CFexpress Type A cards range from $0.15 to over $1.00 per GB depending on brand, generation, and capacity.

Budget options like Pergear and Novachips offer excellent value around $0.15-0.30 per GB with CFexpress 4.0 performance.

Premium brands like Sony and SanDisk cost $0.75-1.50 per GB but offer proven reliability and comprehensive warranty support.

Solving for Reliability Concerns: Check Warranty and Support

Professional shooters should prioritize cards with lifetime or extended warranties and data recovery software included.

Lexar, Sony, and SanDisk offer lifetime limited warranties on their premium cards.

Nextorage stands out with a 5-year warranty, while most competitors offer 3 years or less.

Solving for Heat Issues: Consider Card Design

Some cards run hotter than others during extended use, which can lead to thermal throttling or camera shutdowns.

Sony TOUGH cards feature an integrated heat sink design specifically engineered to dissipate heat during long 4K/120p recording sessions.

Forum users report Pergear cards running hotter than alternatives like Nextorage when removed from cameras after extended use.

Solving for Data Recovery: Look for Included Software

Several brands include memory card recovery software, which can be a lifesaver if you experience data corruption.

Sony includes Memory Card File Rescue software with their TOUGH cards.

Lexar provides access to their Lexar Recovery Tool for all Professional series cards.

Nextorage also includes file recovery software with their cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendations

After testing all 10 cards across multiple Sony cameras, my top recommendation remains the Lexar Professional Silver 4.0 Series for most photographers and videographers.

The combination of CFexpress 4.0 performance, reasonable pricing, and proven reliability makes it the best value proposition in 2026.

Professionals who demand maximum reliability should consider the SanDisk PRO-CINEMA series, which earns its premium price with perfect customer ratings and bulletproof construction.

Budget-conscious buyers will find excellent value in the Pergear Master Series or Novachips Express 4.0 cards, though I recommend having a backup card from an established brand for critical shoots.

Whatever you choose, investing in CFexpress Type A cards will transform your Sony shooting experience with dramatically faster buffer clearing and uninterrupted video recording.

For more memory card and storage guides, check out our comprehensive coverage of storage solutions for photographers and content creators.